12th January 2026 – A vast array of high-class National Hunt stars feature among the entries at Royal Windsor this weekend as part of the three-day Berkshire Winter Million.
103 horses have been entered on Friday’s card where there is over £400,000 in prize money on offer to participants.
The opening day of the Berkshire Winter Million is proudly supported by Fitzdares including the Grade 2 Fitzdares Your Personal Bookmaker Lightning Novices’ Steeplechase where seven entries have been made. Dan Skelton will support this three-day meeting well and he has entered both Be Aware and Mirabad.
Ahead of the race, Skelton said: “Be Aware was a very good second in a Grade 1 at Sandown behind Lulamba, while Mirabad has only had two runs over fences and ran very well in a Grade 2 at Kempton after winning on debut. Both look very suitable for the race and could be players whichever one turns up.”
The most valuable contest on the card is the Fitzdares Sovereign Handicap Hurdle worth £110,000 where 21 entries have been received. Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies’ Spectacularsunrise failed in his hat-trick bid behind a potentially top class rival last month, but could resume his improvement if returned to handicap company.
Great Fleet could also be open to any amount of improvement on thos potential handicap debut, while the lightly-race Bubble Dubi bolted up on his seasonal return and would be another to watch if declared by his trainer Stuart Edmunds.
9 horses have been entered in the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Hurdle worth £100,000.
They include last year’s champion Nemean Lion who showed real guts to land this contest 12 months ago. He could be joined by Take No Chances who was not disgraced when placed in the Coral Long Distance Hurdle behind Impose Toi, form which has since been franked.
The likes of Potters Charm and Doddiethegreat also feature among the names on the list of horses entered at the five-day stage.
154 horses have been entered across Sunday’s card, where once again there is over £400,000 available in prize money.
The feature race of the day is the Fitzdares Fleur De Lys Chase run over 2m6f. Protektorat turned this race into a procession when scoring by 23-lengths in it last year.
He could face a stiffer task to retain his crown this year though with emphatic Cheltenham scorer Matata entered as well as Handstands who posted a below-par run in the Betfair Chase for Ben Pauling.
Ahead of his potential comeback run, Pauling said: “There’s no two ways about it, Handstands in my eyes is a very very good horse, and I know he is. The poor horse hasn't really had a chance when he has been absolutely bang on. When he went to the Betfair, he had a wind problem. Time will tell, but I think in a year's time we will be stood here with the general public having a different perception of Handstands.”
Sunday’s card will also feature the rescheduled Grade 2 Hampton Novices’ Chase which was due to be run at Warwick but will now take place at Windsor after the abandonment of that fixture last weekend.
The action will kick off on Friday at 12:40pm with the Bet Online At fitzdares.com Novices' Hurdle set to be run over 3m. Racing will conclude at 4:10pm with the Berkshire Winter Million Supports Injured Jockeys Fund Handicap Chase over 2m6f. The going is currently described as Good to Soft.
Sunday’s eight-race card starts at 12:20pm with the Berkshire Winter Million Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle over 2m, and the weekend is brought to a close with the Berkshire Winter Million Open National Hunt Flat Race over 2m.
About Windsor Racecourse
Set on the banks of the River Thames and in the shadow of Windsor Castle, the Royal Racecourse is famed for its beautiful settings, immaculate lawns and friendly, intimate atmosphere.
For further information please contact:
Sam Cone, Arena Racing Company on 07920 404296 or SCone@arenaracingcompany.co.uk
Hugo Barran, JSC Communications on 07786 913215 or hugo@jsccomms.co.uk
